Isham melton



(No ModeL) I. MEL'TON.

DESK.

V Patented Mar. 27, 1888..

to form end guards, 0.

UNITED STATES 7' PATENT OFFICE.

ISHAM MELTON, OF MOUNT HOLLY, ARKANSAS.

DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 380,045, dated March 2'7, 1888.

Application filed November 8, 1887. Serial No. 254,627. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISHAM MELTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Holly, in the county of Union and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification. I

My invention has relation to desks; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts.

Figure l is a perspective view of my invention open. Fig. 2isa perspective view of the same closed.

It is described as follows: The body of the desk consists of the two upright end pieces, A A, theupper cross-piece, a, and the lower crosspiece, a. The upper cross-piece, a, is secured between the end pieces about a foot from their top, so as to' form a shelf for books, ledgers, &c., the end pieces extending far enough up The cross-piece a is secured between the said end pieces, A, about equidistant from either end, and has secured to its front and rear edges and to the said end pieces side piece, a", forming a trough, a for the purpose of holding inks, pens, pencils, rubber, &c. Between the said end pieces, the upper cross-piece, a, and the trough a are constructed book-shelves and pigeon-holes B. To either end and on both sides of the main body of the desk are secured legs b by means of "hinges b, which are secured at their upper ends to the upper cross-piece, a. The said legs are so constructed that they may be opened out to answer as braces, and thus hold the said desk in an upright position, and they are kept from opening too wide apart by means of stays a, made of flexible material, one of which is fastened to each end piece, A, at its middle, while its ends are fastened to the said legs I). These stays,however, may be made of metal having an elbow-joint, or of any othermaterial and in any-known form, their office I simply being to keep the said legs from open-.

ing too wide apart. To the inner face of each of the said legs are secured sockets d. Swung in these sockets by means of rods d are leaves E, which when open form the leaves of the desk, and which when shut answer for doors to protect the books, papers, inks, &c., in said desk. These leaves E have each a lower end, 0, which extends down below the hingingpoint, below the rod d, secured to said leaves by sockets d, and when the said leaves are let down the said lower ends, 0, catch under the trough of and hold the said leaves in proper position for use. It is immaterial which leaf is let down first, because their lower ends do not meet under the trough, and will therefore not impinge each other. To the lower ends of the leaves E are secured, by staples or otherwise, a chain or chains, 9, opposite ends being secured to opposite leaves, said chain being just as longas the end pieces are wide, so that when the said leaves are shut up the chain or chains are taut and hold the legs firmly against the said trough, bringing their outer faces flush with the edges of said end pieces and the outer surface of the said leaves, giving a neat and compact finish. Thus the said legs and the said leaves combine to form a door or doors to protect the material in the desk.

When the desk is not in use, the leaves may be shut up, which operation closes up the legs. If it is notdesired to close the legs, one end of the chain may be unhooked from the leaf.

.The leaves E may be madefof or covered" with such material that they may be used as blackboards.

- Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of the end pieces, A, having extensions 0', upper cross-piece, a,-and trough of, secured between said end pieces, shelving B, set above said trough between said end pieces, legs b, hinged at their upper ends to said cross-piece by the hinges b, stays a, secured to said end pieces and said legs, leaves E, pivoted in the sockets d on said legs by means of the rods d,-secured to said leaves, and the chains 9, secured to the lower ends of said leaves, substantially as shown and de- 100 scribed, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the end pieces, A,

upper cross-piece, a, and trough afisecured besaid leaves in proper position for use, all sub- '10 tween said end pieces, shelving B, set above s'tantially as shown and described, and for the said trough and between said end pieces, legs purposes set forth.

b, hinged at their upper ends to the said'cross- I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 5 piece a, stays a, secured to the said end pieces presence of two witnesses.

and said legs, leaves E, pivoted in the sockets ISHAM MELTON.

d by means of the rods d, secured to said Witnesses:

leaves, said leaves E having extensions 6, J ESSE B. MOORE,

adapted to catch under the trough a, to hold '1. SCOTT HOWELL. 

